NBA vote on Kings won’t happen this week

Seattle mayor Mike McGinn said today that the city has been informed that there will be no vote taken when the NBA Board of Governors meets this week in New York.

An NBA spokesman later confirmed the news to The Seattle Times.

McGinn made the comments at a press conference today to talk about the earlier agreement concerning improvements being made to KeyArena in concert with Chris Hansen, who has made an agreement to buy the Sacramento Kings.

McGinn said he called Stern Monday to inform him of the KeyArena agreement and update him on the dismissal of the I-91 lawsuit.

During that call, Stern said he didn’t expect a decision on Friday, McGinn said. McGinn said the NBA was looking to “tee up” the decision with its discussions at the meetings.

McGinn said Stern was in the “same place” as he was after the earlier meeting. McGinn said the owners need to look closely at the proposals before they vote.

The vote would potentially take place a week or two later, though it would not have to be scheduled at any specific time. Sources have said the league can vote later without again assembling — via e-mail, for instance.

Stern said after the league heard presentations from each city in New York on April 3 that the vote could be delayed.

A combined NBA Relocation/Finance committee is meeting in New York on Wednesday to begin debating the issue, and the full Board of Governors (essentially, the owners of the 30 teams) will meet on Thursday and Friday at what is its annual end-of-season meeting.

An NBA spokesman said earlier that Stern would meet the media on Friday to address the situation but the league has not said definitively whether there would or would not be a vote.

The league would be voting specifically on whether to approve the sale of the Kings to the Hansen group — which would require 23 of 30 owners — and whether to approve a request to relocate the team — which would require 16 of 30.

Stern said at the meetings two weeks ago that the league would reach a point where it would have to make a decision so the Kings can begin making plans for the 2013-14 season in whatever city they play. But he indicated that was not a reason for urgency. The Sonics did not announce a move to Oklahoma City until July 2 in 2008.

Under the KeyArena deal, Hansen has the option of selling the naming rights to KeyArena. KeyBank’s naming contract expired in 2010, but Seattle Center kept the name for continuity.

Hansen would have to remove the name when the team moves to its new home. Hansen also may sell sponsorships inside KeyArena.